Tariffs may have slowed the addition of the Alpine A110 EV in America, but Alpine still has its sights set on a USA arrival sometime soon.
Whether it comes in its electric form or as a gas-powered sports car, the A110 might not be enough to make a brand as small as Alpine viable in America. Instead of giving up on the US market, Alpine is doubling down, with the potential of a performance-oriented electric SUV to be a Porsche Cayenne EV rival. Could this be the formula that brings this French sports car brand to America?
Philippe Krief understands the challenges Alpine faces in America
French sports car brand Alpine got derailed by tariffs earlier this year, but CEO Philippe Krief says the U.S. market is still very much on the table. The plan? Bring the upcoming electric A110 as the centerpiece, but pair it with something bigger for American buyers. Krief admits a lightweight sports car alone probably won’t cut it for dealers, so the company is exploring a performance SUV that could go head-to-head with the Porsche Cayenne EV. The catch is finding that balance between volume sales and staying true to what Alpine actually stands for.
The Alpine A390 could be the perfect complement to the A110 EV
Alpine could take a path that mirrors many other luxury, high-end sports car brands from Europe by offering an electric SUV that will serve as the volume sales model for the brand. Sending only the A110 EV could mean slow sales and not enough variety for dealerships to be profitable, but adding the A390 will give dealers a compact SUV that appeals to the practical nature of many drivers.
The A390 electric crossover is a compact SUV, smaller in every way than the Porsche Macan electric, but that might be fine for many drivers. Still, considering the size and build of America’s most popular vehicles, pickup trucks, a tiny crossover might not help dealers with the sales dilemma of a brand that only offers two models. It would probably make a lot more sense for Alpine to bring a larger crossover to America. A vehicle that has the size and qualities of the Porsche Cayenne EV seems like it would make a lot more sense than a tiny crossover that barely fits a family of five.
The Alpine DNA is important to the brand
The Alpine A110 EV is the latest evolution of the A110 sports car that has been the signature model of the brand for the past few years. Entering the USA with a large SUV could change the DNA of the brand, at least in America. Still, Krief says there could be a large SUV added later, but the desire is to stay true to the brand’s DNA with the A110 EV and a small crossover to start things off. Although a second Alpine vehicle hasn’t become a reality, it makes sense to have more than one product for such a fickle market.
The Alpine A110 EV might be slow to every market
Alpine is a small, boutique automaker, and going electric with its signature sports car might be ill-timed. While it’s easy to see how the American market has turned its back on electric vehicles, the same is true in many other markets as well. The EV market has slowed around the globe, and many volume-oriented automakers are reversing their positions by focusing on hybrids and PHEVs instead of EVs. It could simply be the wrong time for a small brand like Alpine to make the change to an electric A110, despite the time and money already invested.
Should Americans expect to see Alpine in the US?
Unless Alpine develops the A390 or a Cayenne-sized SUV in the near future, it’s probably too risky for the brand to bring the Alpine A110 EV to the American market. Through 2024, it seemed that America was following the same path as European countries, working to tighten emissions regulations and improve fuel efficiency numbers, but 2025 has proven that’s no longer the case. Instead of building more charging stations, the American market has had a resurgence of V8 engines and softened fuel efficiency standards.
The Alpine A110 EV might eventually make it to the United States, but it could be a few more years than expected. When it arrives, there could be one or two companion SUVs joining the mix, giving dealers something to sell other than a small electric sports car.
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